Day of Dragons News

Hello again, everyone!

March has been a great month in animations, models, and VFX for us. We have lots of cool new things to share with you. First, here is a message from our head hamster himself.

[h2]From the Lead Developer[/h2]

Q1 2021 is coming to a close wrapping up 16 months of funded development on Day of Dragons, and with that, I get to be the bearer of the news you all have not been waiting for - that being that the 1.0 update will not release in Q1 of 2021 as we had originally planned. We thought we could get it out by the end of March back when we put out our production schedule, but when it comes to game development, you never really know for sure which is why I was hesitant to release a release date when we did several months ago. Q1 was a stretch back then, but we thought we could get it out by then, but that didn't happen.

So what's holding back DoD Genesis? Well, we still have a few things to finish first, such as animations, AI, the new flight system, and a few sounds and particle effects. The good news is that the 1.0 Genesis Open Beta will most definitely be coming in Q2, most likely sooner than later and that will happen once the AI and the Shadow Scale animations are finished. At the time of this blog, we are 90% done with the adult SS anim set and are working on the hatchling anims. Once the Open Beta is live, the remaining production items such as the animated FS, IR, and Magma will be added into the Open Beta as soon as they clear Closed Testing Q&A. Once all the items are out of testing and the Open Beta is cleared of any blocker bugs, Genesis 1.0 will officially release to the public replacing the current alpha build (which will be deprecated) and fans will be able to host their own private Genesis servers. Then, we will begin testing Update 1.1. Speaking of which, our modeling team has already completed most of the 1.1 modeling content and are starting on update 1.2 modeling content this week. Modeling and Sound FX are much farther along currently than Programming and Animations, which I think is usually the case for every game studio.

Some of the things we are doing to help improve our production pipeline include hiring more talent, offload some of my jobs onto other capable developers to allow me to focus more on programming, and better distribute the workload for tasks that can be completed by other developers.

We know that not everyone will take the news of the pushback kindly, but I believe most people understand that game development takes a lot of time. So thank you for your understanding and patience as we continue to work on Day of Dragons Genesis. Those who follow our updates know we are getting things done, and one day at a time it is all coming together. There will come a day when you see Update 1.0 has been released, ːsteamhappyː but it is not this day. ːsteamsadː But someday in 2021! ːsteamhappyː

Thank you for your beawesome patience, beawesome understanding, and continue beawesome support.

- Jon Slabaugh
Lead Developer of Day of Dragons



Alright, back to the blog...
Some of you following our Twitter account may have noticed our new weekly "Dev Diaries", a feature that was requested by the community. These short diaries go over what we have been working on in each department each week. Then at the end of the month, you get to see the results in the monthly Dev Blog! Here is what we worked on this month.



[h2]Bioluminescent Dragon Completed[/h2]



Wow. This dragon was sure a challenge to create and one we could have never completed without the help and support of our awesome community. In total, it took us 5 months to complete this dragon with many scrapped designs. Patrons have already seen part 1 of the concept process and will be getting the second half sometime next month.

However, with the help of the community, we feel we delivered on our promise of the Bioluminescent Dragon being the most beautiful dragon in the game. This is a pure Kickstarter dragon and will only be available for the Kickstarter's who backed for the bio pledge (or winners of the Bio Key). Other players will have to acquire an egg invitation to become one of these dragons.

A special shoutout to ThatOneArtist#2163, 🌻KyraG🌻#6415, and Ulta (Nicole S.)#8037 in our official discord community for their work in helping create the sketches that inspired the final bio concept design.


[h3]Discord Bio Skinning Contest[/h3]

There will still be chances to get a bio key if you missed out on the Kickstarter and your first chance is happening now in our official discord.

We are currently hold our first skinning contest featuring the Bioluminescent Dragon! The winners of this contest will be chosen by the community and have the chance for their skin to be added into the game. The top three prizes include Bio Keys.

The contest runs until April 2nd, with voting lasting until end of day on April 4th. For more information, check out our official discord.

[h3]What's next?[/h3]

We still have a handful of promised concepts to finish including the biggest dragon so far; the Ice Behemoth. This kickstarter dragon will be next followed by the Fire Behemoth. Stay tuned for updates on these dragons next month!



[h2]Animations, VFX, and Assets[/h2]

As stated above, this month we have a lot of new future content to share with you. Our VFX, Environmental Asset, and Animation teams have done a great job as always. Check out what they have been up to this month.

[h3]Animations[/h3]

Like the last few months, the Shadow Scale has been the focus of our animation team as we get closer to permanently opening the Open Testing branch. This month we focused on the remaining ground locomotion as well as his attacks.

The Shadow Scale didn't get all the love this month. The Acid Spitter also got some new moves. Please keep in mind, these are all first takes on the animations. The animations will be polished later on in development.

Stalk

Stalk Idle

Plasma Blast Attack

Backup

Swimming

Mating Display


[h3]VFX[/h3]

Flicker has been EXTRA busy this month. She has worked on everything from burning nests to burning dragons to puddle splashes. Check out some of the work she has done in this past month.

Blood Splatter

Bleed Status Effect

Splashing

Swimming

Fire Burn Status Effect

Acid Burn Status Effect

Nest Incubating Effect

[h3]Nests[/h3]

All of the nests for Genesis are now complete, thanks for the hard work of Brigade. Each nests is unique to that species and made to fit their incubation needs. In the last two blogs, you saw the nests of the Acid Spitter and Shadow Scale. Now, here are the remaining two.


The Flame Stalker's nest is made out of an old burnt tree stump. This cozy design allows the eggs to stay extra warm as the nest burns.


The Inferno Ravager nest is built from a mount of ash and coal. The warm embers from these nests are perfect for reaching the ideal incubation temperature of the Inferno eggs.



Now that all the nests are complete, Brigade will be turning her attention to her next project; sculpting the aquatic AI for the 1.1 update.




[h2]Dev Q&A Livestream[/h2]


Our next Q&A livestream has not yet scheduled. Stay tuned and watch for updates to find out when the next one will be!



[h2]From the Community[/h2]


Each blog post, we pick some of our favorite screenshots and artwork posted by the community to showcase here. Want a chance for your submission to be showcased on our next blog? Post it in the appropriate channels on our discord!

[h3]Some of our favorite recent screenshots...[/h3]

by Nomi#4129

by Kuda the Noodle#1432

by Zenora#2649



[h3]Some of our favorite artwork from the community...[/h3]

by Nihil#0404

by ✪That Darn Plague Doctor✪#4724

by Guppies27#8123


As always thanks for reading and your continued support. See you next month for our #12 blog! Don't forget to follow our official Twitter account for our weekly "Dev Diaries".

~The Day of Dragons Development Team



Don't want to miss out on updates? Follow us on our social media accounts or become a patron to get updates before they are released!


Discord | Twitter | Youtube | Instagram

Hello all!

We've had quite a few questions being asking in our official discord regarding the development of Day of Dragons. Since we don't have a Dev Livestream scheduled for the time being, we'd like to take the time to answer the questions now.

If you have a question and it wasn't answered here, check out our FAQ on discord. If you don't find the answer there, feel free to ask your question in our discord #dev-q-and-a channel.





[h3]Will the developers host a skin designing competition for the community to take part in?[/h3]
Yes, we have one going on right now on our Discord server.

[h3]Will dragons be capable of using other body parts, just as their tail or claws, in means of attacking an opponent?[/h3]
Yes!
Most dragons will have a secondary physical attack. For example, the Acid Spitter has a Tail Swipe attack and then Shadow Scale has a Claw Swipe attack.

[h3]Will there be a rear attack so other players can not ride you during fights on the ground?[/h3]
For some dragons, yes.
For example, the Acid Spitter will have a Tail Swipe attack that does damage to any opponent standing behind the player.

[h3]Will the original dragon sounds heard in the "dragon introduction" videos on Youtube be used in the final version of the Game?[/h3]
Yes and no.
As the models are being prepped for gameplay, we review all of that dragon's sounds and see if they still fit the creature or if they need editing. For example, the Acid Spitter's old sounds were made for a much larger dragon before we decided it would be a Medium Small species. Therefore, his sounds were edited to better fit his size.

[h3]Will the concept pictures of the dragons be updated now that the models have been changed since the concepts were made?[/h3]
No.
The concept pictures are just that, a concept. They will not be updated though there may be more artwork created of the current models in the future.

[h3]Can you equip a new skin on an existing dragon character?[/h3]
No skins are permanent.
In order to change your dragon's skin, you will need to kill your existing character and respawn as a hatchling.

[h3]Will there be a hatching animation that involves the baby crawling out of the egg?[/h3]
It is possible for the future, but not in Genesis.

[h3]Will there be more dragons with feathers or some with fur?[/h3]
Probably.
While we don't have any planned at this time, it is very likely more dragons with feathers, and maybe even some with fur, will be added later into the games development.

[h3]Will there ever be a Salamander (a dragon with side legs) added to the game?[/h3]
Possibly.

[h3]Will the developers have custom environmental assets made for the game[/h3]
Yes and no.
We do currently have an Environmental Asset Artist, Brigade, on our team. She makes custom environment meshes for us such as nests, carcasses, and more. However, the trees, rocks, grass and other environmental assets will continue to use the excellent assets created by Willie Hammes of MAWI United who has been working as a 3D environmental artist for over 25 years.

[h3]Do the developers have any plans for progressive content? Such as boss battles, unlockable skins/dragons, and more?[/h3]
Yes.
There will be tasks for the players to perform in order to unlock skins and dragons species. There will also be "boss battles". These will come later in development.

[h3]Are there any plans to have a skill tree or skill system of some kind?[/h3]
Yes.
In Genesis, there will be a small mutation tree for players to customize their dragon's skills. This system may be expanded on further in development.

[h3]Are there plans for dragon customization such as different horns, colors, and patterns?[/h3]
Not at this time.
While there will be a way to get new colorations and patterns through breeding or other means, players will not be able to edit the color palettes or patterns. At this time there is no plan for different horns or physical features outside of gender differences and elder characteristics.

[h3]Will Hybrids have a system for better skins and stats since they can not breed?[/h3]
Yes.

[h3]Will there be unique markings on the Kickstarter and Patreon skins in the future?[/h3]
Very likely.
Like all things, the Kickstarter skins and Patreon skins are a work in progress and not finalized. Nothing is finalized until the game is full released and out of Early Access and even then, nothing is ever final in game development since polish and improvements are a never-ending process.

[h3]Will there be a system to have eggs available for a player to request instead of the parents inviting a player to their egg?[/h3]
It's possible in the future but for now, players must invite other players to their egg from their group panel.

[h3]Will taking an egg kill your current character even if you are a different species from the egg?[/h3]
No.
Your current character will save. However, if you have a character that is the same species as the egg, it will be replaced by the egg.

[h3]Will there be dynamic (aka secondary) idle animations?[/h3]
Yes.
We will likely start adding them after the Genesis update.

[h3]Will it be possible for two dragons to latch onto the same corpse at once?[/h3]
Not at this time.

[h3]Would it be possible to change the flight animation to no flapping and only have gliding unless the character is increasing speed?[/h3]
Flight animations will depend on the species.
Just like in real creatures, not all dragons will fly the same. Some may be able to glide long distances (like sea birds) while others may have to flap non-stop to stay airborne (like waterfowl).

[h3]Are the developers planning on upgrading to Unreal Engine 5 when it comes out? Or 4.26?[/h3]
Most game studios never upgrade the engine version of a released game because of all the errors and bugs it usually causes to existing code and the resulting delays in production. We currently use UE4.23.1 and it is an extremely stable and bug-free version of UE4. Versions 4.24 and 4.25 are both buggy and in our opinion not production-ready, while 4.26 is stable and introduces volumetric clouds, skies, and Niagara, it is still too new for us to even consider upgrading to as it usually takes several patches before all the bugs are worked out of a new engine version. What we have done already is pull several fixes, features and updates from newer versions of UE4 and integrate them into our modified source version of 4.23.1. So at this time, we have no plans on upgrading the engine version, but we will continue to keep an eye on new versions of Unreal.

[h3]How will Hybrids be unlocked?[/h3]
Classified :)

[h3]How do the developers plan to prevent hacking?[/h3]
No game is hack-proof, but our methods for stopping common memory hacks are redacted.

[h3]Will there be any official documents for setting up a private server?[/h3]
Yes. Configs and other Information on hosting your own dedicated server can be found in our Steam discussion forms. We will update this when Genesis 1.0 servers are released to the public.

[h3]Will there be momentum for grounded species? For example, running faster downhill and slower uphill?[/h3]
Not at this time.

[h3]Will custom nests be added to Open Testing when the Shadow Scale releases?[/h3]
Yes.

[h3]Will herbivorous dragons be able to carry plant material like how carnivorous dragons can carry corpses?[/h3]
No.

[h3]Will herbivorous dragons be able to carry corpses?[/h3]
Maybe.
We are still deciding if we want to include this mechanic or not.

[h3]Will the Micro be able to carry eggs like in the concept?[/h3]
Yes.

[h3]Is there closed testing going on right now and if so how does one become a closed tester?[/h3]
Yes, there is a small group of less than 100 closed testers who help us find and fix bugs before the public gets to play in the open test and release versions. To become a closed tester, you must be 18 or older and apply on our Discord.

[h3]Is the Bioluminescent Dragon exclusive to just Kickstarter backers?[/h3]
Yes. The Bio Dragon DLC was included in a few Kickstarter pledge tiers and is no longer being sold. Only those who possess the Bio DLC will be able to spawn in as a Bio dragon on every server, but non-bio-backers can still be nested in as the Bio on a server by a nesting pair of Bio's. However, if you do not own the Bio DLC, once your Bio dies, you will lose access to play as the Bio unless nested in again by a Bio DLC-owner. The only other way to receive a Bio DLC is from another player who has an extra or from an Official contest or give-away which are very very rare. But luckily, we are hosting a Bio-skinning-contest right now on our Discord server which will go through April 2 providing players a chance to win a Bio DLC key.

[h3]Will there be a weather system in Genesis?[/h3]
Snow and wind are confirmed, but rain is something we are probably not going to add as rain is a performance killer and most players often find it annoying.






We hope that helps answer some of your questions. We will have another dev blog at the end of this month to discuss more development news. Thanks for reading!

~The Day of Dragons Development Team



Don't want to miss out on updates? Follow us on our social media accounts or become a patron to get updates before they are released!


Discord | Twitter | Youtube | Instagram

Welcome to Dev Blog #10! We hope you all had a lovely February and are staying nice and healthy. This month we have a lot of exciting things to share with you all. Our team is growing with the addition of Flicker, our VFX artist who we already have working on particles and decals, and Brigade, our 3D Environmental Artist who has been hard at work making Dragon nests. Starting off, we'll let them both introduce themselves...

[h2]Flicker[/h2]

Hi, I'm Flicker, Beawesome's VFX artist! I'm actually also a 3D generalist, so I can do a little bit of everything: modeling, texturing, rigging and animating; however, I was chosen as staff for my technical side, and work directly in-engine to create a variety of effects, from acid projectiles to dripping blood!

I like reading, watching movies and shows, and gaming. I really, really like gaming, so much so that I decided to make them my life! Also, as a bonus, I love dragons.

I first discovered Day of Dragons as a fan and, through a series of chats and fun moments, decided that being able to make this game, this dream, a reality could be fun. I'm super excited to be on the team, and am looking forward to playing with everyone!

Click here to follow Flicker on Twitter.

[h2]Brigade[/h2]

Hey! I'm DragonBrigade, but some of you might already know me as Brigade- or Brigs, or Bridget, or- you get the point. I'm working on creating 3D environmental assets, with the focus currently being on unique nests for each dragon that will be added in the Genesis update. I have a formal education in game design and graphics, with a focus in 3D modelling.

Some stuff about me: My favorite animals are chickens, I like purple, and I love heavy metal- like, a lot. But most importantly: I've loved dragons for as long as I can remember, and Day of Dragons is my dream game that I've always wanted to play- and work on. I'm super excited to be on this team, and I can't wait to see everyone curl up in some cozy nests :) Keep an eye out, there might just be some spooky scary things around the corner...

Click here to follow Brigade on Instagram.



With introductions done, lets get into what we've been working on in February...


[h2]Beginning Concept Art Again[/h2]

If you've read our last announcement, you are aware that we have once again begun creating new concepts for future dragons. The first, and personal favorite of Bad Parrot, is the Micro Feathered Dragon. This dragon will join the game in an upcoming (after 1.0) update as an unlockable dragon for all players. Kickstarter backers will recognize this dragon as the $500k Stretch Goal reward, meaning that all Kickstarter backers who activated their "Original Backers Rewards" keys will have the Micro permanently and automatically unlocked for them on all servers they play on. That's just one of the great perks to being a Kickstarter!




With the Micro concept now completed, we have turned our attention to the greatly anticipated Bioluminescent Dragon.


[h2]Shadow Scale Progress[/h2]



As you know we are currently in the pre-beta testing phase which is open to Kickstarter beta access backers and owners of the Acid Spitter Drake. Once we get the Shadow Scale to an animated playable state, we will open the Beta to everyone (Open Beta) so the Shadow Scale continues to be the focus of our animation team.

Check out some of his newest animations with more coming in from our animation team each week.

Diving

Sitting

Lay Down to Sleep



[h2]Modeling and Effects[/h2]

The rest of our team has been working hard on their projects as well. Brigade and Flicker are working on creating the effects and structures needed for the next big update.

Now that we have completed all of the Genesis 1.0 Update creature models (meaning they are waiting to be rigged and animated), Jia Hao, our 3D Creature Artist, has moved his attention to the dragons coming in the v1.1 "Helping Herbis" Update, namely the Singe Crest (Healer) and Nurse (Name TBA) dragons.

[h3]Healer Wyvern aka Singe Crest[/h3]



The first dragon being worked on for version 1.1 is the Kickstarter Healer Dragon, now officially named the Singe Crest. The Singe Crest is a small support type dragon that will be able to heal his group members and stop their bleeds using its cauterizing flame and healing pheromones. As of this writing, the Healer is all but completed, just awaiting final 3D model and texture approval from our lead developer.

Hao is currently focused on modeling the Nurse Dragon.


[h3]Shadow Scale Nest[/h3]



Brigade has finished her second custom nest. The Shadow Scale's nest is made of stick and twigs collected in the Forgotten Forest. The trees in this area have a special coating that makes the resistant to fire and high temperatures, making them the perfect material for Plasma nests.

Up next will be the Flame Stalker's nest, which is be quite unique compared to the other finished two.



[h3]Custom VFX[/h3]

Flicker has been busy with a variety of VFX effects. She has finalized the Acid Spitter's Acid Spit attack and has also finished the Shadow Scale's Plasma Blast attack. Now she is turning her attention to environmental VFX. Check out some gifs of what she done this month below.

Plasma Blast

Acid and Plasma Hit Decals

Landing Dust Cloud



[h2]Update from the Lead Developer[/h2]

Greetings Hatchlings,

February has come and gone. Ever wonder why they didn't just take 2 months with 31 days and shorten them to 30 and give February 2 more days so it has 30 like every other month? It always goes by so fast! Speaking of fast, we are working fast on getting all the particles and nests we need for the "First Five" coming to Genesis 1.0. Flicker and Brigade are doing outstanding work and we're glad they joined our team. They were both fans who displayed some amazing talent so we hired them. After getting access to our development, they were very impressed by the work we have been doing... even stuff you all haven't seen yet. Shhhh.

I have been working on AI and implementation. There's a lot of implementation to do. As you know, in Genesis 1.0 we plan to have AI for players to kill and eat. As time goes on and more updates come out we will expand on both the number of AI and the complexity of the AI. I've also been working on the Shadow Scale and getting it playable, integrating particle FX, polishing the nesting system, and working on the flight mechanic. 2021 will be an awesome year for Day of Dragons.

We have been getting a lot of questions about when Genesis 1.0 will be out, we can confirm that the full release with all 4 dragons will not be out in March as we are currently only finished with 1 of the 4 dragons. Shadow Scale is on schedule to be in a playable state sometime this month, but the Flame Stalker and Inferno Ravager are both still awaiting their turn to be animated. So Genesis 1.0 will not be out in March, but the Genesis Open Beta Test (consisting of the Acid Spitter, Shadow Scale and AI) is still on schedule for Q1 2021. The good news is that the Shadow Scale dragon rig being completed will help to speed up the Flame Stalker and Inferno rigging and animations. But we can only work as fast as development allows, and we are working as fast as we can while maintaining a high standard of quality that you all have come to expect from us.

We're also working on the Bio Concept, the Nurse model (we haven't named her yet, got any ideas for us?), and then 1.2 modeling content. After the Bio concept is done, we'll be working on the Behemoth Ice Drake concept... and then that does it for Kickstarter concepts! Yay! All Kickstarter concepts will be finished this year. The models are being worked on now. Healer - check. Nurse - on it. Micro - next. Then Bio/Hybrid/Ice Behemoth/Ice Wyvern/Blitz after those (in no particular order) followed by Fire Behemoth and more Elementals.

We have a lot in store for you all, Day of Dragons is not a sprint project, it is a marathon, and each lap will bring more and more content to our fans. Thank you (especially our Kickstarters and Patreons) for supporting us!

- Jon Slabaugh, Lead Developer


Thanks again for reading!


[h2]Dev Q&A Livestream[/h2]


Our next Q&A livestream has not yet scheduled. Stay tuned and watch for updates to find out when the next one will be!



[h2]From the Community[/h2]


Each blog post, we pick some of our favorite screenshots and artwork posted by the community to showcase here. Want a chance for your submission to be showcased on our next blog? Post it in the appropriate channels on our discord!

[h3]Some of our favorite recent screenshots...[/h3]

by Raster#1589

by Luka Karito#8755

by Halofan523#1506



[h3]Some of our favorite artwork from the community...[/h3]

by WithoutRhymeOrReason#5008

by Ztarli#7786

by ✪That Darn Plague Doctor✪#4724




~The Day of Dragons Development Team



Don't want to miss out on updates? Follow us on our social media accounts or become a patron to get updates before they are released!


Discord | Twitter | Youtube | Instagram

As we did a year ago on this day, Day of Dragons is again on sale today for 44% OFF in memory of our Lead Developer's late father who lost his battle to cancer in 2016. He was born on this day in 1944. Each year going forward, we will continue to offer Day of Dragons on sale at a discount of 44% OFF on February 17th as a tribute to the man whose passing inspired his son to follow his dream.

Introducing the $500k stretch mark Kickstarter Dragon:

The Micro Feathered Acid Dragon.

The smallest dragon so far, the Micro Feathered has Acid Bile which is even more potent than that of the Acid Spitter. He uses this bile to melt open the hard shells of the dragon eggs, which are his favorite food source. The Micro's tail has adapted an underside similar to that of a gecko's foot that allows him to grabs eggs otherwise too large for him to carry.



The Micro's special ability is "Preen". During this, the dragon will groom itself, leaving a thin layer of its saliva on its delicate feathers. This protective coat makes him temporarily immune to bile attacks and gives him "one-shot" protection.


This dragon does not yet have an official species name and will be joining the game in update 1.5 of Beta.